What do you like best about your job?
Corny as it sounds, probably knowing that I work for an organisation whose sole purpose is to try to help people. I’m not clinical, so I can only help in a second-hand way, but if that’s the most I can do, I’ll do that.
What was the first record you ever bought?
God knows. Album, probably Fog on the Tyne by Lindisfarne. Single was probably a T Rex thing. Ride a White Swan maybe.
Who or what inspires you?
People working together to a joint purpose – things like the current Thai rescue, or people acting selflessly.
Name one thing you couldn’t live without?
Humour. No, wait. Decisiveness. I think. No, definitely humour.
How would your friends and colleagues describe you?
No idea. Pain in the backside, probably.
Which three people, living or dead, would you invite to a dinner party and why?
Sir David Attenborough, Eddie Izzard, Germaine Greer. Intelligent, witty, original conversation, a wealth of anecdotes.
Who had the greatest influence on your career?
Can’t recall her name, some HR person who said “What about HR?”
What’s your favourite sport?
Does hiking/trekking count as a sport? More of a pass-time? Is sport supposed to be competitive? Not massively into competition. Perhaps competitive walking?
If you could have any superpower what would it be?
The ability to know when someone is about to use some new management-speak, and to stop them before they can. Let’s run that one up the flagpole and see who salutes it…
What was the last thing that made you smile?
I did have a really nice cup of tea this morning. That made me smile. I often smile at how much I enjoy life at the moment, but a proper wide grin is probably reserved for spending time with my daughter.
What talent do you wish you had?
Any talent at all would be good. Eating without decorating my shirt. Sketching.
Who’s your favourite band?
Faithless
What is your greatest achievement?
I’m not sure that I have achieved anything. I’m 62, so that’s something isn’t it? I get through most days without swearing a lot. Well, sometimes I do. Managing to convince my fiancée that marrying me would be a good idea.
Where is your favourite place in the world?
Wow. If Malham was in northern Italy, it would be there.
What’s your favourite book?
So, so many. Am currently re-reading Homo Deus. Before that, Sapien. Before that, A Gentleman in Moscow. LOTR. Impossible to say.
If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you take with you?
Rowing boat, sat nav and a sail for when I’m knackered.
How would you like to be remembered?
Being remembered at all would be good! “Wossisname, used to be in HR”. If thinking of me makes people smile, that would be enough.